Batteries standardised by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) have a clear, internationally valid designation. However, the use of this designation is voluntary, so it is unnecessarily appear on every primary battery. Nevertheless, the manufacturer's designation and the battery voltage are always printed on the battery housing.

Due to their popularity, many designations - although outdated - have been retained. The ANSI (American National Standards Institute) designations e.g. are no longer officially valid - nor are those from JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard). Former ANSI terminology is now used only for size designations. The original designation AA, for example, was formerly used for an R6 sized (Mignon) zinc-carbon battery, using natural manganese dioxide. Today "AA" is frequently used as a size designation, irrespective of the battery's electrochemical system.

The main numbers used for the most common NiMH and NiCad Battery Capacities are :

Cell Size

Diameter

Length

Weight Alkaline

Weight NiCad

Weight NiMH

mm

mm

grams

grams

grams

AAAA

8.4

40.2

6

10

10

4/3 AAAA

8.4

67

12-13

13

1/4 AAA

10.5

14

2.5-3.5

2.5-4

1/3 AAA

10.5

16

5.5

5.5

1/2 AAA

10.5

22

7

2/3 AAA

10.5

30

6-8

8-9

AAA36

10.5

36

11

4/5 AAA

10.5

37

11

AAA38

10.5

38

11

3/4 AAA

10.5

39.5

12

12

AAA42

10.5

42

12

AAA

10.5

44.5

12

10

13

5/4 AAA

10.5

50

14

15

L-AAA

10.5

50

13

14

4/3 AAA

10.5

67

17

18

5/3 AAA

10.5

67

19

19

LL-AAA

10.5

67

17

18

3/2 AAA

10.5

67

19

20

6/4 AAA

10.5

67

20

20

7/5 AAA

10.5

66.5

15

15

7/4 AAA

10.5

76

19

20-21

7/3 AAA

10.5

80

23

SL AAA

10.5

80

23

1/3 N

11.5

10.8

6

6

N

11.5

28

6.6

8-10

11

4/3 N

11.5

44.5

18

18

Cell Type

Diameter

Length

Alkaline weight

NiCad Weight

NiMH Weight

1/3 AA

14.2

17.5

6.5

7

1/2 AA

14.2

30

12

15

2/3 AA

14.2

28.7

13-15

13-16

4/5 AA

14.2

43

20

22

AA

14.2

50

24

21

27

AA flat top

14.2

48

24

21

27

5/4 AA

14.2

64.5

29

L-AA

14.2

65

29

30

4/3 AA

14.2

65.2

30

30

7/5 AA

14.2

70

29

39

1/3 A

17

21

1/2 A

17

25

17

21

2/3 A

17

28.5

18-20

20-23

4/5 A

17

43

26-31

32-35

A

17

50

32

40

4/3 A

17

67

50

55

L-A

17

67

48

53

7/5 A

17

70

44.8

56

Fat A

18

50

38

42

4/3 Fat A

18

67

56

60

L-Fat A

18

67

55

60

Cell Type

Diameter

Length

Alkaline Weight

NiCad Weight

NiMH Weight

1/2 SC

23

26

30

2/3 SC

23

28

25

28

4/5 SC

23

34

38

42

SC (sub C)

23

43

52

55

RR

23

42.2

50

5/4 Sub C

23

49.5

65-67

70

4/3 SC

23

50

60

66

L-SC

23

50

57

63

1/2 C

26

24

31

34

3/5 C

26

30

40

44

2/3 C

26

31

45

50

C

26

46

65

72

80

5/4 C

26

58

90

100

1/2 D

33

37

81-84

81

2/3 D

33

43.4

98-105

115

D

33

58

135

105-145

105-160

4/3 D

33

89

140-190

175 g

3/2 D

33

90.3

195-236

240 g

F

33

91.2

231

255 g

SF (super F)

41.4

89.1

393

425 g

G

32

105

181

J

32

150

272

6

67

172

998

F3 Prismatic

5.6 x 16.5 x 22 mm

8 g

F4 Prismatic

5.6 x 16.5 x 31.5 mm

11 g

F5 Prismatic

5.6 x 16.5 x 35.5 mm

12 g

F6 Prismatic

5.6 x 16.5 x 48 mm

18 g

F8 Prismatic

5.6 x 16.5 x 66 mm

25 g

Diameter can vary as much as 1 mm between different manufacturers

Length can also vary, and also increase with a protruding end cap.

Weights listed are just the first thing we found in a catalog in that size. YOU CAN'T COMPARE WEIGHTS OF DIFFERENT CHEMISTRIES FROM THIS CHART. Weight of a cell depends on a lot of manufacturer - dependent things. The purpose of the weight column is to give a feel for how heavy a cell will be. Your results will vary. Batteries not included.

Not all the sizes in this chart can be found off-the-shelf. But we can get just about any size made for you. Just ask!